despite the possibility of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite the possibility of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to introduce a contrast or to indicate that something may happen regardless of a potential outcome or situation. Example: "Despite the possibility of rain, we decided to go ahead with the outdoor event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But councillors were not as convinced and voted to defer their decision - despite the possibility of developers going to appeal.

The Guardian

Despite the possibility of their eminent demise, the underdogs have been the Cup challenge's main sources of levity.

The New York Times - Sports

Some major productions have been scheduled to shoot even after June 30, despite the possibility of a new strike.

The New York Times

HBOS has admitted it is considering the possibility of a counter-offer despite the possibility of a competition investigation.

The Guardian - Money

The majority (85%) said they did not think their financial situation would worsen in the next year, despite the possibility of an interest rate rise.

The Guardian - Money

And, despite the possibility of coming off the bench and playing behind the newly acquired shooting guard Jerry Stackhouse, he could not stay away.

The New York Times - Sports

Adam faces a three-match ban if found guilty and, despite the possibility of that punishment being increased, Coates has declared the club's intention to appeal "vigorously".

The Guardian - Sport

Despite the possibility of undue risk-taking, Mr. Greenwald called incentive fees "perfectly O.K. as long as they're on a fulcrum basis," providing equal rewards and penalties.

The New York Times

She took a job in Saudi Arabia, despite the possibility of mistreatment – a risk widely acknowledged in the Filipino community – because her family desperately needed the money.

The Guardian

Despite the possibility of an exemption, employers of all sizes are lobbying against the proposal, which they see as an onerous new federal mandate.

The New York Times

A range of groups are now openly calling for a boycott of the census, despite the possibility of heavy fines for failing to complete it.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite the possibility of" to introduce a contrasting element, indicating that something proceeds even with a potential negative outcome. This adds depth to your writing by acknowledging potential drawbacks while highlighting the action taken.

Common error

Avoid using "despite the possibility of" when the potential outcome is highly probable or certain. In such cases, consider stronger concessive phrases like "despite the likelihood of" or "even though".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite the possibility of" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a concessive clause. It sets up a contrast, indicating that an action or situation occurs even though there's a potential opposing factor. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite the possibility of" is a versatile phrase used to introduce a contrasting element, signifying that an action or decision is made while acknowledging a potential obstacle. As Ludwig AI confirms, its correct usage is well-supported by numerous real-world examples across diverse contexts, particularly in news and scientific domains. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, it's important to consider alternatives like "in spite of the chance of" or "regardless of the likelihood of" to best suit the intended tone and degree of certainty. Remember to use it to introduce a contrasting element, indicating that something proceeds even with a potential negative outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

notwithstanding the potential for

Replaces "despite" with "notwithstanding" and uses "potential for" instead of "possibility of", altering the tone slightly.

in spite of the chance of

Substitutes "despite" with "in spite of" and "possibility" with "chance", offering a more informal alternative.

regardless of the likelihood of

Replaces "despite" with "regardless of" and "possibility" with "likelihood", emphasizing the indifference to the potential event.

even with the prospect of

Changes "despite" to "even with" and uses "prospect" in place of "possibility", highlighting anticipation of something.

irrespective of the potential for

Similar to 'regardless of', this emphasizes a lack of consideration for the possibility.

in the face of the risk of

Focuses on the risk aspect, replacing "possibility" with "risk", which carries a more negative connotation.

conceding the chance of

Implies an acceptance of the possibility while still moving forward.

granting the potential for

Similar to 'conceding', suggesting acknowledgement of the potential but not being deterred.

accepting the probability of

Acknowledges a higher likelihood than just a 'possibility', changing the degree of certainty.

allowing for the chance of

Indicates preparedness for a possible event, differing slightly from ignoring the possibility.

FAQs

How can I use "despite the possibility of" in a sentence?

Use "despite the possibility of" to introduce a contrasting idea or action that occurs even though there's a chance of something else happening. For example, "Despite the possibility of rain, they decided to go for a hike".

What are some alternatives to "despite the possibility of"?

You can use alternatives like "in spite of the chance of", "regardless of the likelihood of", or "even with the prospect of", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it different to use "in spite of" instead of "despite"?

The phrases "despite" and "in spite of" are generally interchangeable and have very similar meanings. You could use either one without significantly changing the sentence's meaning. For example, "In spite of the possibility of delays, the project continued".

When should I use "despite the possibility of" versus "despite the certainty of"?

"Despite the possibility of" is used when there is a chance or potential for something to occur. "Despite the certainty of" would be used when something is guaranteed to happen, and you are proceeding regardless. For instance, "Despite the certainty of challenges, they were determined to succeed".